What if your doctor said that you could do just one thing daily to add value and years to your life while keeping the doctor away — would you do it? I imagine that you would, especially if it was super easy.
You are probably familiar with the saying, ” An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Yes, apples are an awesome addition to a healthy lifestyle, but they are not the only thing that can help keep the doctor away! Drinking one green smoothie a day may be just the thing you need to stay vibrant and healthy.
Green smoothies are packed with essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are readily bioavailable and easily absorbed. Veggies like kale and spinach are not only nutrient dense, full of fiber, iron, calcium and protein, but they’re filled with chlorophyll which serves to strengthen the immune system, keep inflammation under control, increase red blood cell production and boost the cells ability to carry oxygen.
Here are a few more very important health benefits of green smoothies:
Helps with weight loss
Eating more fruits and vegetables each day allows the body to shed excess fat and water weight that builds up from toxins stored in the body. A green smoothie also helps to improve digestive efficiency, which can reduce food cravings. This results in losing even more of those stubborn pounds.
Reduces inflammation
The more anti-inflammatory foods you consume, the better. Junk foods like packaged cookies and cakes, fast food and chips, lead to more inflammation that can increase the risk of cancer, chronic illness and a host of other diseases. Dark leafy greens have the opposite effect. The more you consume, the healthier you become.
Boosts creativity and clearing the mind
Junk foods, especially foods that contain white flour and refined sugars, tend to clog the mind, making the brain feel somewhat out of focus and cloudy. Drinking a green smoothie can help clear the fog, improving mental clarity, focus and even boosting creativity.
Improves appearance
Not only does drinking a green smoothie help everything on the inside function properly, its cleansing properties are naturally beautifying, which means it will show on the outside too. You’ll enjoy clearer skin as well as shinier hair and healthier nails.
When our diet is lacking nutrition, it almost always shows on the outside. Drinking greens rewards us with a beautiful, healthy glow. If you have acne, it may be reduced or eliminated. The increase of fluids will also help to hydrate your skin and even reduce wrinkles, making you look younger.
Provides energy
We can all use more energy, and drinking a green smoothie each day can even help boost energy levels. Beginning your day with one is a perfect way to kick-start your morning. You’ll notice an almost immediate increase in the amount of energy you have.
An easy way to get your recommended daily servings
Finally, green smoothies make it so much easier to increase your intake of veggies and get the recommended seven to 10 daily servings. Many people find it tough to chow down a bunch of kale and spinach, but tossing it into the blender with coconut water, a banana and frozen berries is convenient and delicious!
Try one green smoothie a day for the next week and see if you notice a difference in your health. No matter what type of health issues you’re suffering from, you’re bound to notice a significant effect on the severity of your symptoms.
There are many reasons to include green smoothies in a healthy diet. Blending greens and fruits ruptures their cells, which makes valuable nutrients readily available to the body. Absorption of these nutrients begins in your mouth.
Green smoothies are a complete food because they contain fiber (which helps keep you regular) and bulk, which keeps cravings at bay. Another reason to consider going green is for the benefit of the chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is very similar to hemoglobin and helps to provide instant energy by rebuilding and replenishing red blood cells.
Blending the perfect green smoothie
The perfect green smoothie has three parts: liquid, greens and fruits. For the beginner smoothie drinker, 60 percent fruits, 40 percent greens and one cup of liquid is a good place to start.
Liquids
The liquid part must be added first in order for the drink to be blended smoothly. There are several choices for liquids, but a good starter liquid is water. Don’t use city water, as this has impurities, chlorine and fluoride.
Use only pure spring or filtered water. A tropical twist is easy when you add coconut water — be sure to choose only organic coconut water. Green smoothies are an excellent detoxifying drink, and adding animal milk can interfere with the detox benefits. If you’re trying to get more calcium, greens are an excellent source, so add more. If you really want to add some kind of milk, consider organic almond milk.
Greens
The next step to the perfect smoothie is to pick your greens. Some popular options include romaine lettuce, spinach, parsley, bok choy, lettuce, cabbage, kale or even dandelion greens. Experiment with different types of greens until you arrive at a “just right” taste. You can also add in spirulina or chlorella powder.
Fruits
Adding fruit to your green smoothie gives it a nice rich texture and a somewhat-sweet taste. Juicy fruits such as oranges and grapes will make your smoothie rather pulpy. Great base fruits include banana, mango, peach and papaya.
Add a little citrus or even grapes on top of your base fruit if you enjoy the taste. Avocado or coconut meat are great if you want a thicker smoothie. They add healthy fat, which will balance out the fructose in the fruit.
A note about sweeteners
Greens take a little getting used to as they can be kind of bitter. At first, you may want to add a little sweetener. Stevia or coconut crystals are both good options because they do not have a huge impact on blood sugar.
I love this green smoothie first thing in the morning or as a post-workout snack.
Green Fruit Layered Delight
This layered smoothie delivers a powerful nutritional punch. Plus, it’s also very pretty.
Bottom layer ingredients
- 1/2 frozen organic banana
- 1 cup frozen organic raspberries
- 1/2 cup coconut water
Top layer ingredients
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1/2 frozen organic banana
- 1/4 cup pomegranate arils
- 1/4 cup coconut water
Blend each layer separately in a blender and pour into a glass. Drink immediately.
— Susan Patterson
